Chapter 15

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

A/N: So sorry for being so late at updating this. I've had a few family things going on that took precedence, not to mention both of our computers breaking...anyway, here it is. And thank you all for being so patient.

Harry slept fitfully that night, and awoke to the sight of Draco Malfoy looming ominously over his bed. Startled by the pale boy's appearance he twisted and ended falling off the bed.

"If you're quite done with the theatrics Potter, perhaps you would be so kind as to get ready for breakfast," Malfoy said, a smirk playing lightly on his lips. "I've been told to escort you."

Humiliated, Harry complied, stalking into the bathroom. "Ten minutes Potter," Draco called in after him. A few moments later the pale boy heard the shower start to run. Draco had been confused by Severus' order to supervise Potter this morning. It had seemingly come out of the blue, but Draco knew better than to question Severus' orders. He could only assume that it had something to do with the three sided argument he had eavesdropped on last night.

Bored, the Slytherin allowed his eyes to wander around the room. It was, surprisingly Draco thought, in impeccable order. In fact, investigating further, Draco realized that all of Potter's things were still in his trunk. The boy hadn't even unpacked. Draco shook his head confused. Looking over the room again, he saw only one thing, a green book. Picking it up from off the nightstand Draco was astonished to see the book change to a periwinkle blue.

Draco's jaw dropped in awe when he realized what it must be. If he was right these were really rare. He opened up the cover to see a listing of colors and words beside it, an index Draco assumed, explaining the different colors. Periwinkle blue was the color of contentment.

Idly Draco flipped through the pages, they were empty, as the Slytherin had expected. Potter wasn't exactly Hermione, but he had more cunning than to leave his private thoughts in plain view, even if this was the dark haired boy's personal room.

Draco jumped when he heard the bathroom door open and then grimaced when he realized he was still holding the book. Not exactly the best way to go about gaining Potter's trust, Draco berated himself.

"What are you doing?" The emerald eyed teen asked dangerously, long, wet hair dripping and clinging to his neck.

Draco dumped the book back on the table and tried to look innocent. "Nothing really Potter, but seriously do you know how rare these books are. It must have cost you a fortune."

Surprise was evident on Harry's face. "They're expensive?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah at least a hundred gallons. They're endless you see, you never reach the end of the book. And they have a charm on them, that once activated, only allows the owner of the book to read the contents."

Harry's face was slack with awe. He hadn't received many presents before, and none of them, excluding the Firebolt from Sirius, had been very expensive. It was a surprise to receive something of worth from his wayward father.

Realization dawned on Draco's face. "Oh, I see. Sev got this for you didn't he?" The pale boy nodded to himself. "Yeah, he's got one himself, they're kind of like what Muggles call diaries I guess." The Slytherin shrugged. "Whatever, we have to get down to the Great Hall for breakfast."

The two teenagers trudged down to breakfast, eating in silence between Akasha and Severus at the Head Table and then, when everyone had left, were told their schedule.

"The two of you will meet after breakfast every morning with Akasha for physical training," Severus told the apprentices. "After two hours of that, you will meet me for Double NEWT Potions with the Slytherins and Gryffindors. Akasha and I have decided it will benefit the two of you to participate at the normal level at least in that course. This is provided, of course, that neither of you decides to become a potions apprentice. After lunch, you will each meet with your respective masters to study certain aspects of magic that your master shall decide. This will last until shortly before dinner. After dinner you will return, together, to your rooms and study the basic courses that are taught at Hogwarts. This will be time for you to discuss your lessons and other such things. Is that understood."

"Yes sir," Draco responded eagerly. Harry just stared at him sullenly.

"Mr. Snape, I asked you if you understood," Severus reminded him softly.

"Yes sir," Harry responded softly.

"Good, now please report to the Quidditch Pitch."

What followed for the next two hours was an extensive period of running, exercise, and learning martial arts with Akasha who was capable of outrunning both of the Seekers, and of beating them up thoroughly.

"Go shower," she said disgustedly near the end. "And don't let me see such poor form tomorrow."

The two battered boys did as they were told and then reported to the Potions dungeons. They were soon joined by the Slytherin and Gryffindor sixth years who had qualified for NEWT potions. Harry was surprised to see not only Hermione as he had expected, but also Ron. As soon as they saw him they hurried to sit beside him, earning them each a sneer from the Professor at the front.

"Harry," Hermione said excitedly. "Where have you been? Malfoy told us that Snape was your...."

"Quiet Herm," Harry said uneasily looking around at the class, most of whom were staring at them. Hermione's eyes went wide when she realized what she had just been about to reveal.

"Ten points from Gryffindor Miss Granger for speaking out of turn," came Snape's silky voice from the front of the class. Harry shot him a glare, which his father promptly ignored, and began lecturing the class.

"Today you will be making a batch of Veritaserum. This is a standard NEWT level spell and therefore I expect that you will all not mess it up too badly. Mr. Potter, what are the ingredients for Veritaserum?"

Harry gave him a sneer, Snape obviously was targeting him. The man knew he hadn't been allowed to study at his relatives and was using it against him now, just Harry had known he would. But he would show Snape. Harry knew almost everything there was to know about NEWT standard potions, having studied them during his fourth year for the TriWizard tournament. Not only that, but potions was actually a subject of interest to Harry, and he had read a lot about various types of potions in his free time."

"Vampyr blood, onyx stone, Unicorn horn, and the scale of an asp," Harry answered promptly. Snape's eyes widened in surprise.

"And which is added second Mr. Potter, the horn of the Unicorn or the blood of a Vampyr?" Snape continued spitefully, trying to get Harry in a trap. Beside Harry, Hermione's hand shot up but he ignored it.

"The horn of a Unicorn," Harry answered stoicly.

"Why?"

"Because the Unicorn's horn neutralizes the effect of the Vampyr blood," Harry answered emotionlessly.

"Mr. Weasley do try to remember that," Severus said, turning his attention onto a different victim. "If I recall, you have had trouble with that in the past. If it is forgotten again, I am afraid there may be...unfortunate consequences."

While Ron was sputtering indignantly, the rest of the class got to work on their potions. Sure enough, halfway through, Ron's cauldron emitted a small explosion, earning the redhead a zero for the day, and a week's detention. Ron spent the rest of the lesson muttering to Harry about the unfairness of it all. Harry on the other hand inwardly sighed, he thought the punishment rather fair, afterall, Ron had been warned.

Harry was having his own troubles. With his powers bound, he couldn't use the subtle magic that was required in potion making, rendering his normally adequate skills into complete uselessness. By the end, the potion which was supposed to be clear, was a very dark brown.

"Mr. Potter, a two foot long essay on the history and making of the Veritaserum potion by next class," Snape said. "And see me after class."

When class was finished, Hermione gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and told him to write to them as soon as possible, and then Harry was left alone with Severus, Draco already having gone to lunch.

"What seems to be the problem Mr. Snape?" Severus asked him witheringly. "Have the somewhat average skills you gallivanted last year grown into complete and utter rubbish? What's the problem?"

Harry's face was indignant. "Well, sir," he said mockingly. "If my magic wasn't bound, perhaps my potions wouldn't be such trash. As it is, I can't use my powers in my brewing. Or hadn't that occurred to you?"

Snape's face grew dark, though inwardly he was cursing himself, he hadn't though about potion making in effect with the binding. "We will discuss this with your mistress after lunch Mr. Snape. Do try to make an effort to be civil."

"It's difficult to do that, when the person instructing you in decorum is little more than an overgrown bat."

"Are you talking about the Dursley's Harry," Snape asked, trying to sound sensitive, and slightly anxious. Harry's face grew livid.

"No I'm talking about you."

Akasha was steaming. "Of course you have to unbind his magic. I can't instruct him if he can't even access it. I don't know what you were thinking."

"My sentiments exactly," Harry muttered.

"Don't speak until you're spoken to," Akasha snapped. "Why did you have to bind his magic in the first place Severus."

"It was getting out of hand. He attacked the headmaster and then he attacked me. He doesn't have any control over it."

"You provoked me," Harry screeched. "And how do you expect me to get control over it if you won't even let me use it."

"I told you not to speak," Akasha snapped again. Draco snickered in the background.

"Silence Draco," Severus commanded.

"Take them off Severus, the boy has a point. And I can't teach him if you don't."

"Very well, but you must be prepared for his loss of control."

"You have no trust in me," Harry snapped. "I am capable of controlling myself."

"You will find that I have very little trust in your actions at the moment Harry," Severus admitted, Harry hung his head.

"Please just release me."

Severus heaved a great sigh and approached Harry, ignoring the boy's instinctive flinch, and put his fingers on the golden band. "Releaso est dominoso," Severus intoned and the golden band fell free. Severus put it in his pocket.

Harry could feel the magic start to flow through his body again. It was like a powerful river, washing through him. He could feel it in his very fingertips.

Severus, Akasha, and Draco all gasped as the glamour that Severus had placed on Harry to keep him looking like Harry Potter fell apart and they all saw the boy underneath. A tall, slim boy, with the same emerald eyes. His hair was longer, and more full, with hints of red and gold intertwined with the ebony. He was taller, and the prominent Snape cheekbones and jaw appeared, thankfully without the nose. With this appearance, the resemblance between Harry, Akasha, and Severus was even more pronounced.

Harry opened his eyes to find them all staring at him. "What?" he asked self-consciously.

"Your glamour came off Mr. Snape," Severus said. Harry blinked.

"Oh," he said, and in a blink of an eye the figure of Harry Potter was before them again. Akasha smirked.

"That was quick."

"I'm gifted."

Harry and Akasha shared a sneer.

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